The Christmas fever has gripped Accra, the nation’s capital, with its attendant heavy vehicular traffic as more people troupe in from different walks of life to shop for their Christmas.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a visit to the central business city of Accra at Makola on Monday, witnessed a sea of X’mas shoppers and heavy vehicular traffic all over the city.
Mrs Stella Asante, a customer, speaking to the GNA in an interview said, “I came all the way from Aburi Mountains to do my shopping here because I believe I would get everything I need here in Accra.”
She said there were some items that were difficult to come by in Aburi and even when one finally gets them there, they were very expensive; so by coming to Accra she could get them at affordable prices.
The street in front of the Makola Fire Service Station was packed with people as hundreds of vehicles struggle to drive their way through to the destinations.
Lots of people were seen carrying their goods on their heads and or in trucks as far as Kinbu Senior High School.
Madam Suzzy Ofosu in an interaction with GNA said, “I have spent more than an hour here without getting a vehicle and so have to pay the truck pushers GH¢5.00 before they could convey my goods from the Makola Fire Service Station to Kinbu to pick a taxi because the traffic and the number of people in town are preventing cars from coming.”
Some traders, who spoke to the GNA, blamed the traffic situation on the tension that was created by the two main political parties - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the just ended elections.
They said the misunderstanding made customers to come out this late to shop for the Christmas celebration.
Madam Elizabeth Annor, however, advised that peace must reign so as to allow them enjoy the festivities.